Improvement in shovels



y UNITED STATES PATENT(muren.`

SAMUEL J. GOUCHER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN SHOVELS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N0. 58,636, dated October 9, 1566.

To all whom t may concern:

Beit known that I, SAMUEL J. GoUcHER, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented an Improvement in Shovels; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying,1 drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

My invention consists of certain metal strips secured to a shovel and to the stra-ps of the handle in the manner described hereinafter, so as to prevent the blade ofthe shovel from being broken at the points where the ordinary shovels are usually fractured.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will now proceed to describe its construction and operation.

On reference to the accompanying drawings, which form apart of this specification,

Figure lis a rear view of a shovel with my improvement; Fig. 2, a vertical section of the saine; and Fig. 3, a sectional plan on the line l 2, Fig. l.

Similar' letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

A is the handle, and B is the blade, of the shovel, D and D being the two straps by means of which the blade is secured to the handle.

In ordinary shovels of this class the blade is made of one piece of sheetsteel bent to the desired form, the strapsD and D being riveted directly to the blade.

Owing to the constant strains to which the shovels are subjected, the blades frequently become fractured before they are materially worn at the lower edge. the lines of fracture being at about mand y, Fig. 1, or both. When thus fractured the shovel is useless.

In order to obviate this evil I rivet to the back of the shovel two strips, E and E', of iron or steel, theinuer end of each strip being beneath the strap D', so that the two straps, the strips, and the blade can he firmly secured together by rivets e.

It will be evident, without further description, that these strips will effectually prevent the above-described fractures. It will also be evident that the strips may be situated in front instead of the'baek of the blade, or both at the front and the back.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. Strips E, secured to the blade and handle straps of a shovel, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The strengthening of a spade or shovel in the manner described-that is to say, by riveting or otherwise securing plates'of metal upon and across the upper edge of the blade, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my naine to this specification in the presence of two subA scribing witnesses.

SAMUEL J, GOUGHER.,

Witnesses:

C. B. Peron, JOHN WHITE. 

